( 130 j
KNOT OR ASH-COLOURED SANDPIPER.
TBINGA ÏSLANDICÂ, I.IXX.
PLATE CCCXY. ADULT IN SUMMEB AND WINTER.
THE Knot, good Reader, is a handsome and interesting spoeies,
whether in its spring or in its winter plumage, and, provided it be young
and fat, is always welcome to the palate of the connoisseur in dainties.
As to its habits, Jiowevcr, during the breeding season,. I am sorry to
inform you that I know nothing at all, for in Labrador, whither I went
to examine them,, I did not find a singlelindiyidual. I have been informed
that several students.of nature have!visited its breeding places ;
but why they have given us no information on the subject* seeing that
not only you sand X, but many persons besides, would lie glad; to hear
about it, is what we cannot account for.
I do not wish you to infer from these remarks, that thé persons
alluded, to are the only ones who have -ncglccted. to note "down on
the spot observations which might be interesting and useful* I myself.
am very conscious of my own remissness in.this respect, and deeply
regret the many opportunities -,t>f studying nature which have been
in a manner lost,to me, on ,i}ç.çouitt of a temporary supinuru'.ss which
has seized upon me, at the very moment when the objects of my pursuit
were placed within mv reach by that bountiful Beingto whom we
owe all oiir earthly enjoyments, and all our hopes of that future happiness
which we strive to merit.
I have traced the Knot along the shores of our Atlantic states, from
Texas to the.entrance of the Bay of J'undy, in the months of April
and May, and again in the autumnal months. I have also found it in
winter in East Florida,¡j^nd; therefore feel confident that some of the
species do not proceed beyond our southern limits at that season.
Whilst on the Bay of Ggl^ston, in Texas, in April 1837, I daily ob*
served, groups ,of Knots arriving, there, and proceeding eastward, meandering
along the shores <>f. the Gulf of Mexico. In the interior, of the
United States I never observed one, and for this, reason I am inclined
to think that the species: moves northward along the coast. But
as I did not jind any in Nova Scotia, Labrador, or Newfoundland, I
KNOT OH ASll-COI.Ol HKI> SANDPIPER. 131
consider .¡t probable that those which betake themselves to the fur countries;
turn off from our Atlantic shores when they have reached the entrance
of the. Hay of l'uiidy. However this may be, it is certain that
tiiev rendi a very high latitude, and that some stop to breed about Hudson's
Bay, where Dr RICHARDSON found tliom in summer.
On some few occasions I have observed the Knot- associating with
the Tell-tale Godwit Mid Somi-palmatcd Snipe, about a mile from the
-sei, along tin: margins of ponds of brackish-water; but-such localities
seemed in a manner unuatural to themi and it was seldom that more
than two or three-wore seen there. Along-tho shores, in spring, I have
not unfrcquently thought that they seemed dull, as if they had lost
themselves, for, they would allow a person- to;go very, near, and seldom,
took to wing unless induced to do ¡s.o by companions of other, species,
who we» better aware of their-situàticin, ; In autumn, when they
at times- collectdnto very large: flocks* Itfase. often followed them? until
I- obtained as many as I wished; VVu.sox has so beautifully described
.their movements at such times, that, although: I-have often witnessed
them myself,. I prefer giving his own words.
"In activity it «superior to the Turnstone ; and traces the. flowing
and recession of the waves along the- sandy beach with great nimbleness,
wading and searelung among the loosened -partieles;for its favourite
food; which is a small thin ovaj bivalve shell-fish, of a white or
pearl-colour, and not larger than the seed of an apple. These usually
-lie»:at a short distance below the surface; but in some places are
seen at low water in heaps, like-masses of; wet grain, in quantities of
more than à bushel together.- During . the " latter part of summer and
autumn, these minute shell-fish constitute the: food of almost all those
busy flocks that run with suoli activity along the. sands, among the flowing
and retreating waves. They are; universally swallowed whole ; but
thè-action of the bird's stomach, assisted by the shells themselves, soon
reduces them to :i pulp. Digging- for theseiB the hard sand would
be a work ofconsiderable: labour, whereas,; when- the particles are
loosened by the flowing of the sea, the birds collect them with great
ease and dexterity. Itis amusing to observe with what adroitness they
follow and elude the tumbling surf, while at the same' time they seem
wholly intent on collecting their food."
I have however seen the Knot probe the wet sands, on the borders
of oozy salt marshes, thrusting in its bill to the feathers on the forehead,